I hate switching basses...who's with me?

[lermgalieu]

It’s not worth it unless it’s a totally different instrument IMO. Like when I have EB/DB doubling gigs, in which case I’m using two different channels and signal paths. At one time I was in a band where I needed a fretted, fretless and DB, so the two EBs were sharing a channel. I just found compromise settings on the amp and did the rest with the knobs on the basses. Wasn’t ideal but it worked. My strong preference though is to have one bass, whatever it might be.

 

[GIBrat51]

I never had the chance to try, so... can't say yea or nay. The one time I was in a band, I was normally the instrument tech; sound guy; and set up/take down roadie. I didn't have a bass at all - much less several to choose from. Young enlisted GI's in the early '70s weren't exactly rolling in dough, and being overseas brought strict limits on what - and how much - stuff you could have. Like weight limits for personal effects. For single guys like us? 400 lbs. gross weight; that's including the government's shipping crate. I used the real bass player's bass when he couldn't play, and he only had the one. But, considering the kind of music we played, and the time we were playing it? Looking back on it, changing basses would have been a pretentious indulgence, anyway. That "cheap" Japanese P-Bass clone (with flats) was just fine for the music and the times...

 

[JW56789]

I was never in a band where I needed THIS bass for THAT sound, and others for other tones. I would not have wanted to switch out: There I'd be twisting knobs for the rest of the set, much less if it was a proper gig with big PA, the FOH guy would have been taking me off his Christmas Card list as well . . . . .

I just never did it; hell, I rarely took a second 'break glass in case of . . . .' bass in case the first one failed.

 

[biobass]

Reminds me when I saw RENT on Broadway after I had done it in community theatre, and was all ears for "Santa Fe" and the keyboard player played the bass figure at the beginning of because the bass player (who that night was the original guy!) couldn't handle it. Apparently on the soundtrack it's Anthony Jackson playing that figure. There was a surprising amount of bodged bass notes that night, too.

That really surprises me! The only reason I could think of was that the keyboardist was either the MD or was the only one with a click. I’ve done Rent a number of times in community (high level) and regional, and I was always by myself (rather nakedly exposed) for Santa Fe.

 

[overit]

I'm with you. One bass (5-string w/ rounds) for variety band, the other (5-string w/ flats) for the reggae band. They serve as emergency backups for each other. In the past, I've switched basses mid-set to try it and never really liked it. The only time I could fathom doing it is if I'm playing in front of thousands of people and a tech is handing it to me ready to go. A guy can dream...

 

[40Hz]

Yep, cover/variety band stuff.

Sometimes it's four-string-drop-D followed by five-string-low-B kind of thing.

Makes perfect sense to me. Thx!

 

[frankie5string]

That really surprises me! The only reason I could think of was that the keyboardist was either the MD or was the only one with a click. I’ve done Rent a number of times in community (high level) and regional, and I was always by myself (rather nakedly exposed) for Santa Fe.

He was indeed the MD.
Yeah, I was pretty surprised. Certainly the music I got to do it had ME playing that figure, all alone, in the dark. ;-)

Overall the band was pretty sloppy that night too.

 

[woodyng2]

I bring two basses everywhere. I sit and debate with myself which one's coming out of the bag. I bring two because I always want a backup.

This.
And because I’ve brought a 2nd one, it is going to get played.
I just change out between sets, and use whichever bass for the whole set.
They’re always 4 string fretted, standard tuning,but with different string types.
Edit:so i might play a whole set using rounds and another flats or tapes.

 

[richntiff]

I own two basses that I bring to gigs. They are absolutely identical except for the body color.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY wants to watch and WAIT for a bassist to switch up instruments mid set.

If I’m feeling red, I’ll play the red bass. If I’m in a green mood, I’ll play the green bass. Both come to all gigs, one stays in the case in the remote possibility I do need a backup.

 

[SteveCS]

I'm curious. Could you elaborate on which types of tunes work better on fretted to justify the switch?

Certainly. First off, my current band plays pop and rock songs, not jazz. Secondly, we don't have a guitar player, so on some songs I play guitar-like arrangements. For example, the intro to Adele's 'Rolling in the Deep' has a crunchy muted chugging 1/8th notes, and the intros to Cyndi Lauper's 'Time After Time' and 'Don't Speak' from No Doubt have a fingerpicked legato argeggii and double-stops in the upper octave that need the brightness of frets and rounds.

I take high-range solos in 'It's Too Late' from Carole King and 'Smooth Operator' by Sade, and although either can be played fretless - intonation in that register is not a problem - I think the solos works much better with a bit of fret grind, a glassy top end and a layer of chorus. Other tunes that work better include 'The Logical Song' by Supertramp and 'Just The Two Of Us' by Grover Washington, which really needs the slap tone in the chorus. 'Piece of my Heart' from Erma Franklin sounds much better with a fretted bass and vintage Bassman or B15 amp sim. 'Go Your Own Way' from Fleetwood Mac and the Pretenders' songs 'Talk of the Town' and 'Brass In Pocket' all come to life with the combination of clank and thump that only a fret can provide.

Fretless essentials include Allannah Miles' 'Black Velvet', 'Circle In The Sand' by Belinda Carlisle, 'Chains' by Tina Arena, 'Songbird' by Fleetwood Mac, 'It's Alright (Baby's 'Coming Back)' from Eurythmics, 'Walking On Broken Glass' by Annie Lennox, 'All Cried Out' from Alison Moyet, 'Set Fire to the Rain' from Adele, 'Rather Be' by Jess Glynne/Clean Bandit, 'Spotlight' from Jennifer Hudson (two versions), 'Stop!' from Sam Brown, 'The Man With the Child in his Eyes' by Kate Bush, 'Valentine Blues' by Jools Holland and 'Will You' from Hazell O'Connor, where I play the sax solo on fretless bass. 'Feel Like Making Love', 'Wish I Didn't Miss You' and 'Constant Craving' also get the fretless treatment. There are others, but I think you probably see where I am coming from.

 

[coyote1]

Nobody likes showing off my basses more than me. They're not super special or anything, but I used to be in love with the idea of switching basses just to show off the collection a little, plus it's cool to have different basses for different sounds and tunings. I've tried to enjoy it, especially since I spent a good many years doubling on upright on most of my gigs. Sounded like a good idea at the time.

Here's why I ended up hating it...

---It either slows the show down or it leaves you hanging and looking like amateur night because you're not ready when they start the next song. And many bandleaders don't care if you're switching and they'll count the song off anyway. So I just want to play one bass that can do it all.

---It's easy to switch basses that all have similar sound and output, but switching between a Stingray with new rounds and a Hofner with old flats is going to take some EQ to keep levels consistent and tones not so different that it throws the mix into a meltdown. And the more different basses, the more EQ's you need. Some folks will use programmable EQ's or pres and that's what I did most of the time, but it can take some effort to get it right. And I just don't want to spend time screwing with it. Once saw Heart's sound tech have to rebuild the bass mix from scratch for every other song because Steve Fossen switched every other song and never used the same bass twice.

---Two basses are manageable, but any more than that gets on my nerves during setups and teardowns. Have I done it? Sure I have! How do you think I know???

Anyway, thx for listening to me yak while I try to get over health problems. Been a while I had this much free time since going corporate. And feel free to comment either pro or con.

Depends on so many factors. If you’re doing a three-set clubdate gig, you don’t switch instruments in mid-set unless the music demands it. Your vanity has to take a backseat to the paying status of the gig. But if it’s any other scenario, certainly you can take a moment out to switch instruments….. but it still has to be needed by the music. I do NOT want to slow down a show just to exercise my vanity over my instruments. Especially since virtually no one in the audience will give a hoot about my instruments.

As for different settings on your amps and pedals? Again, you need to be smart about it. If it’s gonna be too cumbersome then it’s not worth doing. If otoh you can, say, do most of a set with one instrument and then switch instruments, quickly get the amp set right and forget using the pedals and close out the set with that instrument, it’s manageable.

 

[hopwheels]

I just managed to get down to one for my originals band, the Ric 4003s in my profile pic when we decided to add a whole mess of covers to play some local breweries that want a whole evening of music. Now it’ll be the Ric and my PJ. Technically the PJ could handle everything but dammit I just got the Ric integrated into the original music soundscape.

 

[Jeff Hughes]

We play a 12 hour St Patrick’s Day gig, and that was the only time I tried switching basses. I alternated sets between a Hofner Violin and a P bass. The Hofner was entirely unpleasant as compared to the ease of playing the P. Never did that again.

Another year, I just brought my faster P to play the second half of the day. The faster P has taller frets, a less gummy neck, and a slightly brighter tone. Switching that time helped get me to the end of the gig with what felt like going down hill on the back end of a long bike ride.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

Nobody likes showing off my basses more than me. They're not super special or anything, but I used to be in love with the idea of switching basses just to show off the collection a little, plus it's cool to have different basses for different sounds and tunings. I've tried to enjoy it, especially since I spent a good many years doubling on upright on most of my gigs. Sounded like a good idea at the time.

Here's why I ended up hating it...

---It either slows the show down or it leaves you hanging and looking like amateur night because you're not ready when they start the next song. And many bandleaders don't care if you're switching and they'll count the song off anyway. So I just want to play one bass that can do it all.

---It's easy to switch basses that all have similar sound and output, but switching between a Stingray with new rounds and a Hofner with old flats is going to take some EQ to keep levels consistent and tones not so different that it throws the mix into a meltdown. And the more different basses, the more EQ's you need. Some folks will use programmable EQ's or pres and that's what I did most of the time, but it can take some effort to get it right. And I just don't want to spend time screwing with it. Once saw Heart's sound tech have to rebuild the bass mix from scratch for every other song because Steve Fossen switched every other song and never used the same bass twice.

---Two basses are manageable, but any more than that gets on my nerves during setups and teardowns. Have I done it? Sure I have! How do you think I know???

Anyway, thx for listening to me yak while I try to get over health problems. Been a while I had this much free time since going corporate. And feel free to comment either pro or con.

One is good for me. Set it, and forget it. I’ve never had a band mate sound guy, or sound engineer asked me to change basses. I did have a new keyboardist ask me about using rounds instead of flat once before we had our amps up and running. I powered up my amp, and played one note. His reply, “Oh, I get it. Nice!”

 

[ctmullins]

I'm having trouble with this "slow down the show" idea.

I can switch basses in ten seconds, fifteen if I'm really fumbling for the side jack.

That's always been less time than the rest of the band takes to launch the next song.

What am I missing?

 

[dkelley]

Jimmy I have exactly the same historical feeling as you do. Used to like to show them off. Then got to be a pain. Also I don't like carrying excess stuff to a gig. I have NEVER had a bass die during a gig. I've never HAD to change basses, aside from needing fretless or fretted switch, and even then I normally just play which ever I have and do my best to emulated the frets or fretless sound when needed.

And levels and tone? forget it! Not worth the effort.

 

[electracoyote]

I'm with Jimmy insomuch as I usually find myself in situations where the set is moving too fast for an intentional switch to scratch my personal itch or show off my backup bass. If I feel like switching, I'll do it between sets. My back up is usually sitting there at the ready in case the one I'm playing has that rare but oh-so-embarrassing failure.

And in some projects, because there is always at least one other individual taking too long to count off the next song, I hate to contribute further to that.

Since I do have a lot of "Number 1's," I will spend the days before the gig practicing and rehearsing with the one I intend to play at the gig. They all make it into the rotation eventually, just not at the same gig.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Play one and be done!

I usually bring two, but play one the whole time which is 98% a P/J 5-string which can get all the tones I need. The type and location of the gig dictates where the backup is. For really small bar gigs where there is no stage and little room, the backup stays in the car. If it's a higher profile gig, it will be close by in a gig bag or on a stand ready to go.

If I switch basses, it's only between sets.

 

[JimmyM]

I'm having trouble with this "slow down the show" idea.

I can switch basses in ten seconds, fifteen if I'm really fumbling for the side jack.

That's always been less time than the rest of the band takes to launch the next song.

What am I missing?

One second in musician time is worth 10 seconds to a crowd.

 

[Ric5]

Nobody likes showing off my basses more than me. They're not super special or anything, but I used to be in love with the idea of switching basses just to show off the collection a little, plus it's cool to have different basses for different sounds and tunings. I've tried to enjoy it, especially since I spent a good many years doubling on upright on most of my gigs. Sounded like a good idea at the time.

Here's why I ended up hating it...

---It either slows the show down or it leaves you hanging and looking like amateur night because you're not ready when they start the next song. And many bandleaders don't care if you're switching and they'll count the song off anyway. So I just want to play one bass that can do it all.

---It's easy to switch basses that all have similar sound and output, but switching between a Stingray with new rounds and a Hofner with old flats is going to take some EQ to keep levels consistent and tones not so different that it throws the mix into a meltdown. And the more different basses, the more EQ's you need. Some folks will use programmable EQ's or pres and that's what I did most of the time, but it can take some effort to get it right. And I just don't want to spend time screwing with it. Once saw Heart's sound tech have to rebuild the bass mix from scratch for every other song because Steve Fossen switched every other song and never used the same bass twice.

---Two basses are manageable, but any more than that gets on my nerves during setups and teardowns. Have I done it? Sure I have! How do you think I know???

Anyway, thx for listening to me yak while I try to get over health problems. Been a while I had this much free time since going corporate. And feel free to comment either pro or con.

I always bring more than one bass in case of a malfunction, then I also have basses with octave strings, and fretless, and passive and active. I used to have basses with alternate tunings but I moved away from that.

Sooo


I like to switch basses ... sometimes I will use one bass per set and sometimes I need a certain bass for a certain song.